Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 7: 177km from Marina di Salvo to Pescara Adam Hansen (Lotto Belisol)) won a rainswept stage that saw the lead change hands and Bradley Wiggins crash and drop out of the top 20.

Adam Hansen soloed to the win in Pescara as the sole survivor of a six man break that went away after 15km. After several days of failed breakaway attempts the bumpy saw-tooth profile lent itself to a breakaway that might last the distance. Enrico Battaglin took the second place with Danilo di Luca in third in a sprint for the also-rans 1’15” later.

While Hansen celebrated analysis turned to the outcome for various contenders for the GC of the day’s profile and weather conditions. Luca Paolini (Katusha) might have hoped he would make it in pink to the time-trial on Saturday but it was not to be. The race lead changed hands over to Benat Inxausti (Movistar) with Vicenzo Nibali in second at 5” with Ryder Hesjedal safe in third at 8”.

The talking point though was the trials of Bradley Wiggins who slipped out on a corner with 5 kilometres to go. While he remounted he had lost a considerable amount of time taking the final descent very cautiously and looked to be in pain from an arm injury. Rigoberto Uran waited with the Brit but he looked reluctant and exposed what is becoming open discontent in the Sky ranks. The impact on Uran was arguably the most affected by the wait dropping from second overall to 22nd while Wiggins slipped from 6th to 23rd.